Congress wants to get involved in international negotiations with

[pampango]

Iran over nuclear issues

New Republican Majority Wants to intervene in Obama’s Iran Talks

Should U.S. President Barack Obama and Western powers reach a nuclear deal with Iran, they could face a new hurdle: a Republican Congress. Republicans are eyeing various Iran-related measures, including legislation to impose fresh sanctions should talks fail and to require congressional review of any deal.

The Obama administration opposes new sanctions during the negotiating period and Iran has said that they could pull out of talks should Congress pass new sanctions.

Speaking to reporters on Capitol Hill on January 7, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Corker said Iran was “very much front-burner” for the new Congress. “Surely you would think Congress would want to weigh in on a nuclear negotiation,” Corker, a Republican from Tennessee, said.

But with senior U.S. officials slated to meet with Iranian officials next week in Geneva, the White House wants Congress to give its negotiators room to maneuver. Senator Tim Kaine, a Democrat from Virginia said European diplomats involved in the negotiations have also expressed concern about potential new sanctions in a recent meeting.

http://www.juancole.com/2015/01/republican-majority-intervene.html

The new republican majority rears its ugly head in negotiations with Iran.